{"id":12797,"date":"2012-07-10T07:00:29","date_gmt":"2012-07-10T14:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?p=12797"},"modified":"2015-03-19T13:52:35","modified_gmt":"2015-03-19T20:52:35","slug":"travelling-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2012\/07\/10\/travelling-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Lectionary: Travelling Light"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 15th, 2012<\/h2>\n

In our Lectionary this week we learn about the calling of the Prophet Amos, a regular blue-collar worker who was called by God to be a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, away from his home in the Kingdom of Judah.<\/p>\n

The notion of a “calling” is also found in our Second Reading. St. Paul says “In [Christ] we were also chosen,<\/em>\u00a0destined in accord with the purpose of the One<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>who accomplishes all things”<\/span>. <\/em>In our baptism we too have been chosen and sent out\u00a0as prophets into the world, to preach a life-giving message which is so often received with nothing but hostility.<\/p>\n

Finally, in our Gospel Reading, Jesus sends out\u00a0His Twelve Apostles to preach and to heal, to advance the Kingdom of Heaven.<\/p>\n

A man of prayer is capable of everything. Hence it is very important that missioners dedicate themselves to this practice with great affection, because without it they will accomplish little or nothing, whereas through it, more than by letters or persuasive speech, they will be capable of touching hearts and winning souls to their Creator.<\/em> -St. Vincent de Paul<\/span><\/p>\n

Our Lord instructs the Apostles to “travel light”, taking only the simplest of supplies and to trust in the providence of God. Good advice for us all…<\/p>\n

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Reading I:\u00a0Amos 7:12-15<\/h3>\n

Amos was a man from the town of Tekoa, just south of Bethlehem, in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. He worked as a “shepherd”<\/span><\/em> and a\u00a0“dresser of sycamores”<\/em><\/span>. He was called by God to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Jeroboam II. It was a time of peace and prosperity, but also one of moral and religious degradation.<\/p>\n

Amos’ message is one of the least hopeful in the prophetic literature. He is scathing of those in power: the rich, the priests and even the King himself. Amos declares that Israel has abused her\u00a0privileged\u00a0position. She has broken her covenant with God and will now be subject to the covenant curses.<\/p>\n

In the verses leading up to\u00a0this passage, we hear about a priest of Bethel by the name of “Amaziah”<\/span><\/em>. He sends two messages: the first he sends to the King, telling him what Amos has been proclaiming, and the second he sends to the prophet himself…<\/p>\n

Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos,\u00a0“Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!\u00a0There earn your bread by prophesying,\u00a0but never again prophesy in Bethel;\u00a0for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.”\u00a0Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet,\u00a0nor have I belonged to a company of prophets;\u00a0I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.<\/span>\u00a0The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me,\u00a0Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Questions:<\/p>\n